Arson determined as cause of two Ottawa fires

This house located on Third Street, Ottawa, was the second of two suspicious house fires that occurred in the village Friday morning. (Putnam Sentinel/Nancy Kline)

OTTAWA — Two suspicious fires that occurred early Friday morning in Ottawa remain under investigation and have been determined as arson by the State Fire Marshall's Office.

According
to Ottawa Fire Chief Dan Rieman, the Ottawa Fire Department was first
called to the scene of a fire at 315 N. Perry Street at 5:11 a,m.
Responding to that fire were the Ottawa and Glandorf Fire Department.

Then
just two hours later and only a few blocks northeast of the first fire,
a second house fire was called in. The Ottawa Fire Department responded
to the second house fire at 529 W. Third Street at 7:19 a.m. Assisting
the Ottawa Fire Department as this house fire were Leipsic and Kalida
Fire Departments.

Neither home was occupied.

Rieman said
both fires were suspicious since neither home had utilities and the
power had been cut off at the homes. Also both homes were in the flood
zone and had recently been turned over to the village of Ottawa as part
of the Hazard Mitigation Flood Program. Both homes were scheduled for
demolition as part of this program.

Investigators from the Ohio
State Fire Marshall’s office were called to the scene Friday morning.
They have labeled both fires as arsons. Blue arson signs have been
placed at both Ottawa residences. The signs inform the public there is a
reward of up to $5,000 for any information leading to the
identification of those responsible for these fires.

Rieman said
investigators are seeking information about the fires. They are asking
members of the public to come forward if they saw something out of the
ordinary at those locations at or around the time of the fire, as well
as if anyone has heard people talking about the fire with an unusual
level of interest or knowledge.

Any tips can be relayed to the
State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau tip line at
800-589-2728. The fire marshal’s office is continuing the
investigation.